Beyond

Chapter Two: Two Trees

                Chapter Two: Two Trees

        It's been a long time since the first warning of any keepers of a gifted child would be punished.  Fortunately, my family of two has not yet been found; and, luckily, I don't think we will be saught out for a while.  The endless road the lies in front of our home has been empty for many, many days; yet, the only thing on it is my own truck, when I go to get food.

        As I sit on a white-painted, rocking chair, while reading a book, I look up to where my daughter is near.  The only tree that is within this entire area is now wilting, dying from the past radiation that as afflicted this whole land.  Its leaves are dropping and floating into the middle of nowhere, drifting to the unknown dust.  The twigs and branches are gradually getting thinner and smaller, some snapping off.  The trunk is tilted slightly, black almost and dry from the lack of water.

        Sadie, who plays in the grass nearby it, watches as its dead leaves fly around, as if playing tag.  Her eyes glimmer with interest and she looks down at the ground.  Pressing her hands against the ground, she closes her soft eyes and then, suddenly, something comes out from it.

        At the sight of this, I drop my book and stand up as my mouth drops open.  I try to speak; however, all that comes out is a gasp of disbelief and awe.

        Out from the ground, a tree is beginning to grow.  Every second, it grows at least a couple inches.  Finally, it gets much taller than the dead tree near it.  The healthy branches are clearly much stronger, the leaves a bright, youthful green.  The trunk is fresh and beautiful, a soft brown that is probably much livelier than the grass around it.  On some of the branches, small little flowers bloom, adding color to the entire area around it.

        "Sadie..." I whisper, too shocked to say anymore.  This is beautiful.  Yet, how did she make it?  Is that even possible?  Can other gifted children do this?

        Stumbling slightly, I walk towards the tree, mouth still open from this supernatural activity and thing that my own daughter has just produced with her very own hands.  When I am beneath the shade of its leaves, I press my hand up against the trunk and feel its strong structure.  Something about this tree gives me a small feeling of... Hope?

         "Isn't he beautiful?" Sadie grins, stroking the wood.

        "He?" I furrow my brows and turn to her small, little body.  She tilts her head.

        "Don't you hear him?  He's thanking me right now!  He's also trying to introduce himself to you," Sadie acts as if it is something that everyone hears; however, what she doesn't know, is that I cannot hear what she hears.

        Sighing, I kneel down and explain, "Sadie--" I want to tell her that she might just be imagining things.  Yet, instead, something about her eyes gives me a glimmer of trust.  I sigh and ask, "What's his name?"

        "Robert.  He says he wants to be apart of our family, if that's okay with you."

        Laughing under my breath, I turn to "Robert" and say, "Yes, you can be a Vast."

        "Yay!" Sadie hugs me close and then turns back to the tree.  "Robert!  You're a Vast!"

        I giggle and stand, wondering if this is either her imagination or actually a thing she can hear.  Whatever the case is, I am in love with her actions.  She's so creative and fun; even when times get rough, Sadie always keeps her smile on her beautiful, fair face.  She brings hope to our small family, giving me some sort of faith in the world to keep us safe.